Several months have passed since I published anything on the venerable Bhartruhari. In this installment, I present one of my all-time favourites from Neeti Shataka.
Nindantu neeti nipunah yadi vaa stunvantu |
Lakshmiih samaavishatu gacchatu vaa yatheshtam ||
Adya eva vaa maranam astu yugaantare vaa |
Nyayaat pathah pravichalanti padam na dhiraah ||
Unmindful of the praise or the upbraid of
Scholars learned in morals, ethics, and conduct;
Unheeding of the ingress or exodus of
Goddess Lakshmi (wealth), Her will;
Undaunted of Death come today or
Perchance eons later,
He that treads the trail of Truth
Falters aught a foot.